NEWS BRIEFS

+ School District promotes early registration for students
In an effort to keep classes stable and teaching consistent, Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills is encouraging parents to register their children for school as soon as possible.

Parents need to register their children for school if their child is transferring to a different school or if they are new to the district.

“It’s very important for parents to register their children early so our schools can have a good grasp on the number of students they will have this year,” Mills said. “Registering early helps limit the disruption of having to move teachers from one school to another after the school year begins.”

In Florida, school districts perform a 10-day count of students, at which time they determine the enrollment at each individual school 10 days into the school year.

At that point, to comply with the class-size requirement, teachers may be assigned to different schools, depending on enrollment figures.

If fewer students show up at a school than projected, that school needs fewer teachers.

“Registering early can be a big help to our school district,” Mills said. “It will lessen the chances of your child having to adjust to a new teacher after the school year begins.”

The first day of school is Aug. 19.

Parents who have questions about the registration process should contact the school their child plans to attend.

+ Commission approves plans for University Parkway project
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners approved three development projects north of University Parkway at its land-use meeting Aug. 8.

A developer for University Groves, a project north of University Parkway and west of Tuttle Avenue, proposes to use 142.15 acres for a hotel and motor-vehicle service center, day-care center and a treatment facility.

The board also approved a preliminary site plan for University Groves West, which calls for 133 lots for single-family homes on 48.76 acres. Amenities for the development include a clubhouse, pool and a dog run.

Finally, commissioners approved University Village, a proposed 208 single-family home gated development on the north side of Tallevast Road.

The proposed 51-acre development would sit on property currently used for cattle.

In other business, the board continued a public hearing about the proposed Eagle Trace subdivision at 2004 Pope Road, at the request of the applicant.

+ Manatee County schools schedule open houses
Manatee County Schools released its open-house schedule. Open-house dates and times for East County schools are:

Elementary Schools
Bashaw — 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15
Braden River — 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15
Freedom — 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 15
Gullett — 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16
McNeal — 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 16
Tara — 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 15
Willis — 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15
Gene Witt — 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15

Middle Schools
Braden River — 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15
Haile — 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 15
Nolan — 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15

High Schools
Braden River — 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 15
Lakewood Ranch — 6 p.m. Aug. 14 for ninth-graders and new students; 6 p.m. Aug. 15 (10th- through 12th-graders)

Meetings & agendas
Manatee County Planning Commission Meeting — 9 a.m. Aug. 15, at the Manatee County Government Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Work Session — 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 20, at the Manatee County Government Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton